Diverting switch



March 4, 1947.

F. w. BORSE ETAL 2,416,814

Filed May e, 1944 2 sheets-sheet 1 March 4, 1947. F, w, BORSE ETAL2,416,814

DIVERTING SWITCH Filed May "s, 1944 2 sheets-sheet 2 l INVENTORS, Mz ZU.50 rse,

Patented Mar. 4, 1947 DIVERTING SWITCH Felix W. Borse, Oak Park, andHenning Hernianson, Deeriield, Ill., assignors `to Minne-:amalis-Honeywell Regulator Company, Minneapoiis, Minn., acorporation ofDelaware Application May 6, 1944, Serial No. 534,506

20 Claims. `(Cl. 251-401) Our present invention relates to a divertingswitch of the .plug valve typev which may be mounted on the back of acontrol panel and is operated by a knob in front of the panel.

One object ofthe invention is to provide a diverting switch of simpleand inexpensive construction having a number of advantages thatcontribute to long life, fool-'proof effortless operation,and toconvenient servicing 'of the valve when necessary without removing theValve body from the panel or disconnecting any ofthe pipe connectionswith the valve body.

Another object is to provide a 'switch of this character particularlyfor switching compressed air from a supply main to various branches andbleeding other branches as desired through a rotatable plug valvestructure provided with detent means for indicating various properpositions of port alignment.

Still another object is to provide a plug valve which may be lapped tosecure va perfect seat of the plug within its bore and which has theends of the bore and the ends oftaper of the plug so related as toprevent `the formation of ridges during the lapping operation,peripheral grooves in the valve body and in the valve plug likewisebeing related so as to prevent formation of ridges from lapping.

A `further object is to provide a floating connection between a controlshaft and the 'valve plug soy that the plug cannot be accidentlyloosened in yits bore nor tightened by pushing or pulling of the controlshaft and substantially constant seating pressure ofthe valve plug ismaintained.

Still a further object is to provide a diverting switch lwhich has acontrol shaft for ythe valve plug connected therewith by' means of a`detent head which is pinned to one end of the shaft and has a' tongueand keyway connection' with the plug, the other end of the-shaft beingjournalled in the plug adjacent one end thereof `anddetent mechanismbeing provided for coaction with the detent head. y

An additional object is t'o provide Ia detent cap removably positionedon the back :of the vval-ve body and having the detent head journalledtherein. for 'removal therewith, the control shaft being 'also removablefrom 4'the valve plug'with the detent head and thedetent cap, therebyexposing the valve plug for removal and disassembly lo-f all the .partsfor replacement Aof any of 4 them without disturbing the piping .to lthe.valve body -or .removing the valve body :from the panel on'which it ismounted, and the interior of the valve plug being threaded for coactionwith a tool therewith for removal'oi the plug relative to the valvebody.

With these and other objects Yin view, our invention consists in theconstruction, arrangement and combination of the various parts oi ourdevice whereby the objects contemplated arcattained, as hereinafter morefully set forth, pointed out in our claims land illustrated'in theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of a diverting switch embodying ourinvention.

Fig. 2'is a rear elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line '3&3 of

Fig. 2 with the portion ltot thereof taken on the Fig. 8 is a sectionalview on the line84-8 of f t Fig. 3 showing peripheral grooves on thevalve body Aand the 'valve plug as well as a porting arrangement and aslot in the valve plug.-y n l On the accompanying drawings, we have usedthe reference numeral I0 to indicate a panel or the like on which ourdiverting switch may .be mounted. The diverting switch includesa valvebody B and a valve `plug P as its maink elements and the bo'dyis adaptedfor mounting on the panel as by means of suitable bolts or screwsthrough openings I2 of attaching feet I4 formed on the valve body. y

The valve body B has a tapered bore indicated atY I6, one end of whichis designated Ia and the otherend Ib. These ends are the small and largeends respectively ofthe bore. Between `the ends Ia'and Ib is aperipheral groeve I8 in the bore and its sides are indicated .at I8a andlill).

The valve plug P has a tapered part 20ste fit the tapered bore I6 andthe small and large ends of this tapered part are indicated asV 20a, and`2017. The plug and the'valve body also havecylindrical portions I9 and.22 which .are not tapered. n The valve plug has a peripheral groove 24opening-into the vgroove I8 and the sides ofthe groove 24 .are indicatedat 24a, and 24h. The groove 24 is .oli-

set relative to the groove I8 inthedirection .to-

ward the small end 20a of the valve plug Pand surfaces.

this causes the groove side 24h to overhang with respect to the grooveside lb whereas the groove side 24a is past the groove side la, andtherefore Within the bore I6.

Similarly the plug end 28a is in overhanging relation to the front endlSa of the bore l and the end 2Gb of the tapered portion of the plug iswithin the bore l5 or-past the end Elib. This arrangement has a definitepurpose in that it prevents'the formation of ridges during the lappingof the valve where they will interfere with the proper air sealing ofthe plug in the valve body. Such ridges will be on the plug at the frontface of the valve body and in the bore It at the line h so that wearduring lapping and subsequent wear due to operation of the valve'willnot develop shoulders in the bore at the small end Yof the plug and onthe plug at its large end.

Preferably the body and plug are made of dis-Y similar metals such asbrass and cast iron and are hand-lapped to t eachother. After lap' pingwith an.v abrasive, agflnishing operation is preferably performed withvhot oil and graphitev in order to lubricate the valve between thelapped The .off-set arrangement of theedges Iba and 20m-15b and Zb, 18a.and 24h prevent the formation of ridgesv at points where they would beformed during lapping if the overhanging relation of Ythese ledges rwerereversed. This contributes to theproductionof aperfectly lapped Valveand one which does-not leak after the lapping has been completed eventhough subject to many thousands of operations during its service life.Furthermore, any wearing 'of the plug within the body eliminates theharm from formation of ridges at undesirable locations as described inconnection with the lapping operation and a valve is thereby had whichlasts much longer than usualA without leaks developing. Where it isdesirable to have communication between aY-port such as an inlet port 26and the entire periphery of the valve plug atall times, the grooves i8and 24 may be provided and would ordinarily complicate the lappingoperation but by the off-set arrangement of edges as we have described,a valve of this' kind can be lapped into perfect fit as readily as asimple valve plug.

-vThe port 23 ofthe valve body B may be connected with a main suchas acopper tubing compressed air line and the valve body has a single or anydesired number of outlet ports 28 which may be connected to vrvariousbranches extending to pneumatic thermostats, damper motors or the like.On the drawings we have shown, merely by way of illustration. four ofthe outlet ports 28 and these are suitably threaded for the reception ofcopper tube fittings or small pipes.

purpose of Yconnecting this groove with any of the four branch ports 28whereas the other three branch ports communicate through the-ports 3i)withY the interior or bore of the valve plug indicatedY at 34. This borecommunicates with atmosphere as' will hereinafter be described.

For operating the valve 'plugVV P, we provide 'a control shaft vSliwhich is connected to the plug by a detent head 38. The 4means ofconnection includes a cross pin 4l! and a tongue and keyway connectionwherein the tongues are illustrated at 42 andare formed on the detenthead while the groovesjare indicated at 44 and are mille'dinto theportion 22- ofthe plug P. The tongue and The valvek vplug itself has aplurality of return ports 3B (in v the illustrated instance rV3) and' aslot 32.

slot 32 communicates with the groove 2li for the A 4 keyway connection,it will be noted, is off-set relative to the center of the shaft 36 soas to prevent the possibility of reassembling the parts in the wrongposition at 180 from its intended position.

Adjacent the end of the shaft 36 opposite the cross pin 40 the shaft isjournalledin abearing sleeve 46 of the plug P. This sleeve may extendthrough an opening i8 of the panel lli which is enlarged so that it isimpossible for the panel to bear sidewise against the plug and thus tendto destroy its proper seating in therbore Iii. A control knob 50 ismounted on the shaft 3S preferablyby a pair of set screws 52 at rightangles to each other and engaging flat spots 54 on the con- Y trolshaft. The knob therefore may be replaced in its proper position on theshaft afterY a disassembling operation.

A pointer 56 is associated with the knob 59 for indicatory coaction withindicia 58 on the panel lll. The indicator may be rotatable on a sleeveVB0 of the control knob 5!) and. may be locked relative thereto by a locknut 62 and a screw Sli.

The detent head 38 has a sleeve portion 66 journalled in a. bore 61 of acap 68. This cap is removable with respect to the valve body B as bythree screws 10. The detent head is vlimited in its axial movementrelative thereto by a stop 'plug 12, the head of which serves as a stopwhen the detent head 38 is movedY to the left, in Fig. 3. The stop plug12 is also a vent plug as it is provided with a vent ,opening 14extending therethrough from the inner end to atmosphere at the outerend. The vent 14 communicates with the interior of the detent head 38and with the bore 34 of the plug P to permit escape of compressed airfrom the bore to atmosphere. Y A spring 16 is interposed between thedeten head 38 and the valve plug P las illustrated in Fig. 3 to maintaina constant seating pressure on the valve plug. The cross pin 411 extendsthrough both the shaft 36 and the detent head 38, being preferably atight fit in the head and a relatively loose fit in the control shaft36. The ends of the pin are peened as indicated at 4I to retain l it inassembled position.

The detenthead 323y has a plurality of detent notches 18 therein asshown in Figure 5 which are adapted to receive a detent inthe form of aball slidable in a bore 82 of the detent cap 68. The bore is plugged at84 and interposed between the plug and the ball is a spring 86 forurgingV the ball to engage in the detent notches 18.

Practical operation` In the operation of our diverting switch, the knob50 may be manipulated for rotating the plug P either right hand or lefthand as desired. Although the porting arrangement can be variedconsiderably Yfrom that disclosed, We will describe the operations whichtake place withrthe type of diverting switch that is illustrated on ourport 26 a branch port so that the branch can be agrege-14 fed from anyone of three sources. lObviously more vslots v32 and less ports 30 couldbe providedy for other :switchingarrangements.

When the knob 5o is rotated to any one of `its four positions whereythe'ports are properlyzalined,

such fact will be indicated to the operator by the detent ball Siisnapping into one of the notchesI i3, and so doing, effecting .a iinalpositioning of the valve plug in its port aligned position. The hole 36din the shaft S36 `for the vpin ig is slightly larger than the pin itselfto permit such nal positioning and to give an' indication to the user ofsuch fact. The snapping fof .the ball into the notch can rbe 'slightlyfelt when. it occurs.

During operation of the diverting switch, a constant pressure of vtheplug P in its 'seat f6 is maintained bythe spring AT6. This pressurecannot be decreased by pushing on the shaft 36 as axial movement of theshaft in this direction is stopped by the detent head 38 lengaging thecap 68, the cap, in turn,'being xed as vit is connected to the valvebody B `and the valve body is supported on the panel lo and vthe `tongueand keyway connection permits of such movement without the .plug movingwith them. Likewise the seating pressure of the plug can be increasedonly by `a slight amount due to 'increase inthe pressure ofthe spring*16 When the knob is accidently or intentionally 'pulled away fromthepanel. In that case the detent head 38 is moved with the shaft'i but issoon stopped inits movement by the head of the stop plug 1.2 engagingthe back face of the detent cap 68. This engagement occurs before theleft hand enjd of the detent head 38 or its tongues '42 engage a socketbottom 39 of the valve -plug or the bottoms of the keyways 414respectively. AAlso fby journalling the shaft 36 at one enclin thebearing sleeve 46 of the plug P and having the' other end journalled atBES-61 in the detent `cap 68, theplug P cannot be unseated by sidewiseorvertical pressure on the knob 50, .thus contributing to vavvalve thatoperates leak-proof under all operating conditions.

Inl connection with the servicing of the diverting-switch, the setscrews `52 Vmay be loosened and the screws 'IG removed Vwhereupon thekshaft 3o, detenthead 33 and detent cap 568 may be removed forreplacement of Vany ofi-the parts thereof or the spring 11B. desirableto remove the 'plug'P 'for iany purpose, a tool or bolt having aproperlythreaded end may be manipulated for engaging such end with threads Siformed in the plug'whereupon the plug may be withdrawn. l

After repairs or replacements Ahave 'beenmada :if at that time 'it/"ls 6closed, a valve body having a tapered bore, a tapered valve plugtherein, a spring biasing said valveplug toward seated position in saidbore,

a control shaft for rotating said valve plug and l f Vextending into thesmall end thereof, said small end having a bearing for said controlshaft, and

means at the large end of said valve plug for loosely connecting theinner end oi said control shaft therewith, said means comprising a headhaving anion-center tongueand keywayv connection with said valve plugand a loose cross pin vconnection with said control shaft.A

2. In a diverting switch, a valve body having a tapered bore, a taperedplug therein, a spring biasing said plugtoward seated position in saidbore, a control shaft for rotating saidv valve plug and extending intothe small end thereof, said small'end having a bearing for said controlshaft,

' and 'means at the large end of said valve .plug

for'lo'osely connecting the inner end of said control shaft therewith.

3. In a switch of the character disclosed, a valve body having a taperedbore, a tapered valve plug therein, means biasing said valve plug towardseated position in said bore. a control shaft for 'rotating said valveplugand extending into vthe small endthereof, said small endvjournalling the outer end of said control shaft, and means at the largeend Aof said valve plug for loosely connecting'the inner' end of saidcontrol Ishaft thereu with including a head having an off-centeredtongue and keyway connection with said valve plug.

fi. In a switch of the character disclosed, a valve body having atapered bore, a tapered valve plug seated therein, a control forrotating said valve plug and extending into the small endy thereof, saidsmall end having a bearing for said control shaft, and said controlshaft having a loose connection with the large end of said valve taperedbore, a tapered valve plug therein, a conthe parts may be reassembled inthe reverse orl v der and both the assembly and the disassemblyoperations do not in any way interfere with the piping to the ports 2bor 28 nor do 'they necessitate the removal .of the valve body" vfrom:its mounted positionon thebaek of the panel i0.

AServicing of the valve in va minimum of time .is

trol shaft through said valve plug for rotating it, said valve plughaving a bearing for said rcontrol shaft and a slidable andnon-rotatable connection with the shaft, said connection Ybeing `limitedin its movement in a direction axiallyof said control shaft whereby theshaft can neither push nor'pull the valve plug, and ar spring interposedbetween said connection and said plug.

6. A diverting switch comprising a valve body having atapered bore,means for mounting said` ,ried 'by said detent cap for engaging withsaid notches to indicate when said valve plug is in port valignmentposition, a tongueand keyway connection between said valve plug and saiddetent head, a control shaftbaving a portion journalled in the small endof valve plug and extending from the iront of said panel Athrough saidvalve plug `and-into said detent head, a' cross pin 'oonnection betweensaid detent head. and the inner end of said control shaft, a vented stopplug for saiddetenit head to prevent the head from being -pulled by.the'zc'ontrol shaft into engagement with `valve body on the back of apanel with said bore normal to the panel and entirely baci: of it, a

detent cap'removably secured to the 'rear end of Y said valve body, atapered valve plug in said bore, a detent head connected with said valveplug for rotation therewith and journalled in said detent cap at thelarge end of said valve plug, a spring interposed between said detenthead and said valve plug for tending to separate the two,

said detent head having notches in its periphery,

, a detent carried by said detent cap for engagingl with said notches toindicate when said valve plug is in port alignment positions, a controlshaft having a portion .iournalled in said valve plug and extendingfrom'the front of said panel through said valve plug and into saiddetent head, a vented sto-p plug for said detent head to prevent thehead from being pulled by the control shaft'into engagement with thevalve plug, said detent head and said control shaft being removable withsaid detent cap, said valve body having a port arrangement includingcommunication with the interior of the valve plug surrounding saidcontrol shaft, along said control shaft, through said detent head andthrough said stop plug vent to atmosphere.

8. A diverting switch comprising a valve body having a Vtapered bore, adetent cap removably secured to the rear end oi said valve body, 'ataperedvalve plug in said bore, a detent head journalled in said detentcap at Ythe large end of said valve plug and operatively connected withsaid valve plug for simultaneous rotation therewith, a spring interposedbetween said detent head and said valve plug for tending to separate thetwo, said detent head having notches in its periphery, a detent carriedby Isaid detent cap for engaging with said notches to indicate when saidvalve plug is in port alignment positions, a control shaft having aportion journalled in said valve plug and extending into said detenthead, a vented sto-p plug for said detent head to prevent the head fromVbeing pulled by the control shaft into engagement with the valve plug,said valve body having a port arrangement including communication withthe interior of the valve plugsurrounding said control shaft, along saidcontrolY shaft, through said .detent head and Vof said Valve plug, aspring interposed between said detent head and said valve plug fortending Yto separate the two, said detent head having notches in itsperiphery, a detent carried by said detent cap for engaging with saidnotches to indicate when saidV valve plug is in port alignmentvpositions, a tongue and keyway connection between said valve plug andsaid detenthead, a control shaft having a ,portion journalled in thesmall end of said valve plug and extending'into said detent head, across pin connection between said detent head and the inner end of saidcontrol shaft, a vented stop plug for said detent head to prevent thehead from being pulledby the control shaft into engagement with thevalve plug, and thusprevent its axial movement with said shaft, saidvalve body having a port arrangement including communication with theinterior of the valve plug surrounding said control shaft, along saidcontrolshaft, through said detent head and through said stop plug ventto atmosphere. l Y

1). A valve structure comprising a body having a tapered bore, meansformounting said valve body on the back of a panel with said bore normalto the panel and entirely back of it, a de,- tent cap removably securedto the rear end'of said valve body, a tapered valve plug in said bore,

a detent head'in' said detent cap at the large end vof said valve plug,a spring interposed be-Y tween said detent head and said valve plug fortending to separate the two and seat the plug,

said detent head being journalled in saiddetentV cap and having notchesin its periphery, a detent carried by said detent cap for engaging withsaid notches to indicate andaid in the positioning of said valve plug, atongue and keyway connection between said valve plug and said detenthead, a control shaft having a portion journalled in the small end ofsaid valve plug and extending from the front of said panel through valveplug therein, a detent head in said detentV cap, a spring interposedbetween said detent head and said valveplug for tending to separate thetwo and seat `the plug, saiddetent head being vjournalled in said detentcap Vand having notches in its periphery, a detent carried by saiddetent cap for engaging with said notches to indicate and aid in' therpositioning of said valve plug,r a connection betweenl said valve plugand said detent head, a control shaft having a portionloosely journalledin said valve plug for free Inove-` ment relative :thereto and extendingintoV said detent head and connected therewith, and means to limitsaid'control shaft against axial movement to the extent that all of suchVmovement is independent vof said valve plug to prevent axial movementof the plug with the shaft.

l2. A diverting switch comprising a valve body having a tapered bore,means for mounting said valve body, a cap removably secured to saidvalve body, a tapered valve plug in said bore, a head in said cap at'the large Vend of said valve plug, means interposed between saidV headand said Y valve plug for tending to separate the two and thereby seatthe valveplug, said head being jour-V nalled in said cap, a slidable andnon-rotatable connection between said valve plug and said head, acontrol shaft. having a portion journalled in the small end of saidvalve' plug and operatively y connected jwith'said head, stop means forsaid head'in saidcapftoprevent the head from being pulled by the controlshaft into engagement with the valve plug, 'said head 'and said controlshaft being removable with said cap, said valve plug having a threadedportion for engagement of a tool therewith for removing lthe plug fromthe body. y

13. A diverting switch comprising a valve body having a tapered bore,means for mounting said valve body, a cap removably secured to saidvalve body, a tapered valve plug in said bore, a head in said cap at thelarge end of said valve plug, means interposed between said head andsaid valve plug for tending to separate the two and thereby seat thevalve plug, said head being journalled in said cap, a slidable andnon-rotatable connection between said valve plug and said head, acontrol shaft having a portion journalled in the small end of said valveplug and operatively connected with said head, stop means for said headin said cap to prevent the head from being pulled by the control shaftinto engagement with the valve plug, said head and said control shaftbeing removable with said cap.

14. In a diverting switch of the kind described, a valve body adaptedfor mounting on the back of a panel, said valve body having a taperedbore,

` a valve plug seated therein, a control shaft eX- tending from thefront of the panel through said valve plug and journalled in an end ofthe plug adjacent the panel, a cap on said valve body at the other endof the plug, a head therein journalled with relation to said cap andloosely connected with said shaft and said valve plug for turning theplug by rotating the shaft, a

10 axial movement from causing said head to move said valve plugaxially.

17. A diverting switch comprising a valve body,

means for mounting said valve body on the back of a panel with said borenormalto the panel, a

detent carried by said detent cap for engagingl with said notches toindicate port alignment position of said valve plug, a slidable andnonrotatable connection between said valve plug and said detent head, acontrol shaft having a portion journalled in said valve plug andextending from the front of said panel through said valve plug and intosaid detent head, and an voperative connection between said detent headand said control shaft.

18. In a diverting switch, a valve body having a tapered bore, a taperedplug therein, a spring biasing said plug toward seated position in saidbore, a control shaft for rotating said valve plug and extending intothe small end thereof, said small end having a bearing for said controlshaft, and means at :the large end of said valve plug for looselyconnecting the inner end of said control shaft therewith, said meansbeing arranged to insure assembly of said control shaft in only oneposition Vof rotation relative to said valve plug.

19. In a diverting switch of the character disclosed, a valve bodyhaving a tapered bore, a

i tapered valve plug therein, a spring biasing said said grooves beingoffset with the edge of the a valve body having a tapered bore, a valveplug seated therein, a control shaft extending through said valve plugand journaled in one end of the plug, a cap on' said valve body at theother end of the plug, a head therein journalled with relation to saidcap and slidably and non-rotatably connected with said valve plug, saidhead being operatively connected with said shaft for turning the plug byrotating the shaft, a spring interposed between said plug and said head,said plug having its small end extended beyond the small end of saidbore and its large end terminating within said bore to prevent theformation of harmful ridges.

16. In a diverting switch of the character disclosed, a valve bodyhaving a taperedv bore, a tapered valve plug therein, means biasing saidvalve plug toward seated position in said bore, a control shaft forrotating said valve plug, said plug having at one end a bearing for saidcontrol shaft and means at the other end -of said valve plug for looselyconnecting said control shaft therewith, said means comprising a headhavinga tongue and keyway connection with said valve plug, and means forlimiting axial movement of said shaft to an extent preventing such valveplug toward seated position in said bore, a control shaft for rotatingsaid valve plug and extending intothe small end thereof, said small endhaving la bearing for said control shaft, and means at the large end ofsaid valve plug for loosely connecting the inner end of said controlshaft therewith, said means comprising ahead having an off-center tongueand keyway connec tion with said valve plug.

l20. In a diverting switch of the character disend having a bearing forsaid control shaft, and

means yat the large end of said valve plug for loosely connecting theinner end of said control shaft therewith, said means comprising a loosecross-pin connection withv said control shaft.

FELIX W. BORSE. HENNINGS. HERMANSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record inithe file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PA'I'ENTS

